What Causes Ear Bleeding? Your Symptoms Explained

Bleeding from the ear is hard to ignore. Causes for ear bleeding range from mild conditions to serious injuries or medical problems, so it's important to seek the right treatment. Read more below to learn why you may be experiencing ear bleeding and how to seek treatment.

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Bleeding from the Ear Explained

It's unlikely you can ignore bleeding from your ear [1]. Bloody discharge can originate from the ear canal leading to the eardrum, the eardrum itself, or the middle ear (the part of the ear that lies behind the eardrum). Depending on the cause, which can range from mild to severe, the discharge can be blood alone or blood and other fluids, like pus.

What Causes Ear Bleeding?

The following details may help you better understand your symptoms and if and when you need to see a physician.

Injury

Injuries can easily result in bleeding.

Ear canal injury: Bleeding from the ear can come from an injury to the skin of the ear canal. Injuries often occur when an object is inserted into the ear, such as a cotton swab or an instrument to remove earwax.

Eardrum injury: A tear in the eardrum can lead to bleeding from the ear [2]. This injury can occur due to increased pressure behind the eardrum with head trauma or a middle ear infection. A foreign object inserted into the ear canal can also rupture the eardrum.

Head trauma: Bleeding from the ear can occur due to head trauma, even without perforation of the tympanic membrane, if there is a skull fracture with disruption of the ear canal [3].

Infectious causes

Ear infections can result in bleeding.

Middle ear infection: Usually an infection of the middle ear will not cause discharge unless there is a perforation of the eardrum. However, if ear tubes are in place, bloody discharge from an infection can drain out from behind the eardrum. A middle ear infection can also cause blisters (pustules) to form on the eardrum. Rupture of these blisters causes a bloody discharge.

Ear canal infection: A chronic bacterial infection of the ear canal can lead to the development of abnormal tissue that easily bleeds [4].

Other causes

Other causes of bleeding from the ear include the following.

Polyp: Chronic inflammation in the ear can cause a polyp, a type of benign skin growth that often bleeds.

Cancer: Bleeding from the ear could originate from skin cancer on the external ear or in the ear canal if it develops bleeding ulcers. A white bump or scaly patch may be visible.

3 Possible Bleeding From The Ear Conditions

The list below shows results from the use of our quiz by Buoy users who experienced bleeding from the ear. This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have.

Foreign body in external ear

An ear foreign body is anything that gets stuck in the ear canal other than earwax. This may include food, toy pieces, beads, buttons, disk batteries, cotton swab, paper, or insects. Foreign bodies are usually trapped in the outer ear canal.

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: ear fullness/pressure, ear discharge, pain in one ear canal, bleeding from the ear, pus leaking from the ear

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Bleeding From The Ear Symptom Checker

Take a quiz to find out what might be causing your bleeding from the ear

Burst ear drum

The ear drum is a thin membrane that vibrates as sound hits it, transmitting that vibration into signals that the brain understands! When it bursts, your hearing is affected. It typically happens after some force to the ear drum, such as a blow to the ear, an exploding firecracker, a fall onto water, or even a sharp object in the ear.

When to Seek Treatment for Blood in the Ear

When it is an emergency

You have a fever more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit: Along with chronic drainage and bleeding from the ear

You have sudden-onset hearing loss or a spinning sensation

When to see a doctor

Even if emergency care isn't necessary, you should see a physician fo ear bleeding unless there is an obvious source, such as a scratch visible in the ear canal. Make an appointment with your physician if you or your child have:

A history of chronic ear infections

Hearing loss or a spinning sensation

Severe and persistent pain [5]

A bump or scaly area in the ear: Regardless if it has stayed the same or increased in size over time.

Bleeding that persists several days after ear tube placement

Medical treatments

Your physician may prescribe one or more of the following bleeding from the ear treatments, depending on the cause of the bleeding.

Antibiotic drops for an infection

Laser therapy for abnormal blood vessels

Referral for surgical management of cancer

Referral for new or replacement ear tubes

At-home treatments

Many causes of ear bleeding will eventually resolve on their own. Some home treatments may also help.

Keep the ear dry and clean: Do not go swimming until the bleeding has resolved and dry your ears thoroughly after you bathe.

Avoid placing any objects in the ear: Especially cotton swabs or Q-tips, which can cause or exacerbate injuries to the eardrum and ear canal

FAQs About Bleeding From The Ear

Here are some frequently asked questions about bleeding from the ear.

What causes bleeding from the ear after a head injury?

Head trauma may cause a perforated eardrum, which leads to bleeding. In addition, a blow to the head can cause a skull fracture. Depending on the bone affected, the fracture can disrupt the ear canal, also resulting in bleeding. You should seek emergency treatment if you notice bleeding from the ear after a head injury.

Can bleeding from the ear be caused by an infection?

Yes, an ear infection can cause bleeding. Bleeding often occurs with an infection of the middle ear — the part of the ear behind the eardrum. A middle ear infection can cause the eardrum to rupture and bleed. Tubes inserted into the ear allow blood and other fluid to drain, and this drainage may increase with the presence of an infection. Less commonly, a chronic infection of the ear canal can lead to the development of abnormal tissue that bleeds easily.

What kinds of injuries cause bleeding from the ear?

A skull fracture can cause bleeding from the ear due to disruption of the ear canal. In addition, a perforated eardrum may cause bleeding. Head injuries or inserting foreign objects into the ear can lead to a perforated eardrum. In addition to bleeding, head trauma or eardrum perforation can lead to symptoms such as hearing loss or a sensation of spinning, depending on the extent of the injury.

Can skin abnormalities cause bleeding from the ear?

Yes, bleeding from the ear may originate from abnormalities of the skin of the outer ear or ear canal. Skin cancer on the ear may present with bleeding as it ulcerates. In this case, a white bump or scaly area may be visible. In addition, abnormal superficial blood vessels in the ear, or telangiectasias, can bleed intermittently [6]. These abnormalities can occur with the genetic disorder, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Can ear tubes cause bleeding from the ear?

Bleeding may occur after ear tubes are inserted to treat chronic ear infections. The bleeding should not last for more than a couple of days. In addition, bleeding from the ear may occur with an ear infection in the middle ear while the ear tubes are in place. Blood and fluid normally build up behind the eardrum during a middle ear infection. Part of the purpose of ear tubes is to relieve pressure from fluid buildup and allow drainage, so bloody discharge is possible.

Questions Your Doctor May Ask About Bleeding From The Ear

To diagnose this condition, your doctor would likely ask the following questions:

Have someone look in your ear with a flashlight. What is seen?

Do you hear a ringing or whistling sound no one else hears?

Is there anything coming from your ear(s)?

Have you noticed a change in your hearing?

If you've answered yes to one or more of these questions

Please take a quiz to find out what might be causing your bleeding from the ear. These questions are also covered.